Sacra Selecta: Relic Invention and the “Science of Piety”

What is it about?

The elephant in the room wreaking havoc upon the archaeological nature of the cemeteries of Rome was the papal government’s excavation strategy following the final doctrinal decrees of the Council of Trent regarding the Cult of the Saints and Indulgences, specifically from the 25th Session on December 4, 1563. As with so much else in Roman Catholic tradition, the time-honored tradition of distributing sacred tokens underwent scrutiny and reorganization, becoming a papal responsibility. The stakes were high to keep the story of the catacombs alive as a testament to Christian fortitude. The new Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican was planned to house relics of all the major saints of Christendom, symbolizing unity around the apostolic tomb. Rome had an abundance of ancient monuments that could be aligned with contemporary objectives. However, the catacombs held particular importance as “eternal models” for the Catholic Church following the Council of Trent.

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Photo by Vilmantas Bekesius on Unsplash

Photo by Vilmantas Bekesius on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Much of the literature produced on ancient Christian monuments between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries imposed a literary framework on archaeological remains. The material evidence was often interpreted as early signs of devotion to the saints and other pious practices. Using both literal and figurative “tunnel vision,” the authors of these works treated artifacts much like textual citations to bolster their arguments. Unsurprisingly, this approach favored the most patent, legible (intact), and positive illustrations of Christianity, as well as items that, while not inherently Christian, contributed to reconstructing a Christian presence at these sites. In light of these conditions, the archaeological record of the early modern era was shaped by the interests and concerns of those who controlled it.

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